MANILA, Philippines – Ateneo de Manila University's star spiker, Marck Espejo, is still welcome to join the national team even though he was not included in the 25-man pool unveiled by head coach Sammy Acaylar on Tuesday.

This according to Acaylar himself, who explained that Espejo did not make it to the list because he did not attend any of the tryouts.

"Naiintindihan ko sila at nirerespeto ko sila kasi they're having their UAAP," said Acaylar of Espejo, as well as Ateneo's other players who did not make it to the team.

(I understand and respect their decision, because they are playing in the UAAP.)

Acaylar said Espejo remains part of his "wish list," along with a couple of other players from National University who also did not attend the tryout.

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Espejo, who has won three MVP trophies and led Ateneo to two UAAP championships, was the most glaring omission in the list, along with teammate and three-time UAAP Best Setter Ish Polvorosa.

NU's powerful spiker Bryan Bagunas, who leads the UAAP in scoring in Season 79, also did not make it.

Instead, former NCAA standouts Johnvic de Guzman and Howard Mojica headline the list.

"Of course, habang nagte-training kami, open pa rin naman ako kung gusto nila mag-serve sa country," said Acaylar. "Bayan natin ito, so I should be flexible with my decision. Kasi gusto natin bumalik 'yung volleyball sa standard na maayos."

"'Yung 25 is still there. Dagdag na lang tayo then," he added.

(While we are training, we are open if they want to join us and serve the country. I should be flexible with my decision because we want to raise the standard of volleyball in the country. We will just add them to the initial 25-man pool.)

According to Ateneo men's volleyball coach Oliver Almadro, however, it is unlikely that Espejo or any of his other players will wind up with the national team.

"Hindi sila binawalan [mag-try out], pero timing talaga sa games eh. No chance to attend tryouts," Almadro explained in a message to ABS-CBN News.

(They were not prevented from trying out, but the timing of the tryouts conflicted with our games.)

"Too tight ang schedules. And besides, they are repeatedly announcing that they only want players na fully committed sa national team," he added. "I guess, for now, our full commitment is playing for Ateneo and doing well in their academics."

With Espejo and Polvorosa leading the charge, the Blue Eagles are unbeaten in the UAAP Season 79 men's volleyball tournament, where they are gunning for a third consecutive crown.

"As of now, that is our position," Almadro concluded. "We pray and wish the national team success."

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